Not Here to Stay Friends

In this lighthearted rom-com by Hill (Love from Scratch), childhood best friends Sloane McKinney and Liam Daniels haven’t seen each other in over two years when they reunite for a whirlwind summer in Los Angeles. Aspiring screenwriter Sloane—who dreams of moving from her Knoxville, Tenn., home to work in TV and film in L.A. after high school—can’t wait to visit Liam and experience the city. And while Liam is excited to spend the summer catching up with Sloane, he’s instead coerced into working for his father as a production assistant on a teen reality dating show, Aspen Woods’s Future Leading Lady, where 25 contestants vie for the chance to romance dreamy actor Aspen Woods. But the show is missing a participant and, in exchange for his help getting her into a prestigious screenwriting program, Liam’s father persuades Sloane to take the final slot. There’s no doubting Sloane and Liam’s inevitable romance, facilitated by palpable chemistry and a low-conflict plot. With snappy dialogue, bouncy narrative beats, distinctly rendered alternating perspectives, and emotional turmoil in place of dramatic stakes, Hill delivers a zealous romance in this relaxed read. The protagonists read as white. Ages 12–up. Agent: Laura Crockett, Triada US. (Apr.)